Premier League clubs hit fans with massive price rises

Football fans currently contemplating renewing season tickets at Premier League clubs are fast discovering that galloping inflation is not restricted to their local petrol station forecourts.

Indeed at a time when clubs are benefiting from unprecedented television revenues a BBC survey of season-ticket prices for middle-priced stands has found that supporters will be expected to pay an average £590 for such a seat next season, a rise of 7.2% - more than twice the rate of consumer price inflation.

After winning the FA Cup, Portsmouth have increased the cost of a mid-range seat by 17.5%. Top-priced tickets at Fratton Park now cost £925 - £13 more than the most expensive seats at Old Trafford, home of the league champions, Manchester United.

Other big rises came at Blackburn Rovers (12.9%), Tottenham Hotspur (10.7%) and Wigan Athletic (10%). A Spurs spokesman defended the decision to raise prices for White Hart Lane, saying: "In order to progress on and off the pitch we need to be able to continue to raise our level of investment in the squad and all areas of the club's operations and facilities."

At the other end of the scale, West Ham United, Manchester City and Middlesbrough all put prices up by 4% or less while Chelsea supporters have been cheered by news that the club has frozen prices at Stamford Bridge. Of the other leading clubs, Manchester United have put the price of a middle-ranked seat up by 6%, with the cost of a season ticket in the upper East Stand rising to £665. Nonetheless, when compared to typical prices in excess of £1,000 for a decent spot at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium the cost of watching Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford, where full adult prices range from £912 to £494, seems relatively reasonable.

The BBC survey did not include Bolton Wanderers, Liverpool and Newcastle United, where season ticket details were still being finalised, in the survey. However Newcastle yesterday confirmed that there will be price reductions in certain areas of St James' Park, including a newly created so called "singing" or "noisy" corner in which season tickets will be available at a reduced £390 for the more vocal sort of supporter who comes equipped with powerful lungs. In exchange for such good value tickets, these "noisy" fans will be expected to lead the rest of the ground in renditions of The Blaydon Races.